Odia Film Faces Backlash Over Alleged Depiction of Nayagarh Minor Rape Case
An upcoming Odia film has ignited significant controversy in Bhubaneswar after one of its lead actors publicly stated that the movie is based on the tragic 2020 minor rape and murder case from Nayagarh district. The revelation has prompted strong reactions from the victim's family and raised serious ethical questions about cinematic portrayals of real-life tragedies.
Father Seeks Legal Intervention Against Film Release
The father of the deceased minor girl has formally approached Odisha's Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, requesting immediate intervention to prevent the film's scheduled release. In his appeal, he expressed profound distress that the filmmakers created a movie based on his daughter's harrowing experience without obtaining any consent from the family.
The grieving father emphasized that the film's timing is particularly insensitive, as the legal case remains pending before the Orissa High Court. He further revealed that some of the accused individuals continue to pose threats to his family's safety, making the cinematic portrayal even more traumatic for those directly affected by the original tragedy.
Conflicting Statements from Film Team
The controversy deepened when lead actor Jyoti Ranjan Nayak confirmed during the film's music release event that the narrative draws inspiration from the Nayagarh case. This statement directly contradicts subsequent claims from the film's creative team.
Writer Rajani Ranjan has strongly refuted these allegations, asserting that "there is absolutely no reference in the film to the Nayagarh incident." According to Ranjan, the movie addresses broader themes of sexual violence against girls and tells a universal story about a family's struggle for justice, rather than depicting any specific real-life case.
Production Details and Release Schedule
Directed by Tripati Kumar Sahu and produced by Sanjay Mohanty, the film remains scheduled for theatrical release on January 30 despite the growing controversy. The production team now faces mounting pressure to clarify the film's actual content and address the concerns raised by the victim's family.
The father has specifically requested both Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj to conduct a thorough verification of whether the film indeed portrays his daughter's case. This demand highlights the ongoing tension between artistic expression and ethical responsibility when dealing with sensitive real-life events.
As the debate continues, the film industry faces important questions about consent, sensitivity, and the ethical boundaries of creative inspiration drawn from traumatic real-world incidents that continue to affect living victims and their families.
